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I assume you mean Solid Signal. This would not be an issue with them because they are not the ones with a one year warranty. That is a manufacturers warranty, so DirecTV is the one who should be dealing with this.

You wouldn't take a Sony TV back to Best Buy if it quits working 9 months after you bought it and expect them to fix it because Sony has a 1 year warranty would you? No you will have to deal with Sony to get the TV fixed under warranty.

The OP will have to deal with DirecTV to get this replaced if he wants it done for free. He will have to hope that the HR24 is replaced with another HR24 since that is what DirecTV is supposedly trying to do for those models. He might have a little bit better chance if he gets them to schedule a tech visit and then when the tech calls ask him to make sure to bring an HR24 as a replacement. My guess is the tech will do it if they have them avaiable just to cut down on the extra hassle of messing with a DECA adapter if he is using MRV.

Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."
-by Jack Handy

I doubt that the intermittent behavior would cause DTV to not send out a replacement.

Incorrect, at least in my experience. If an issue is correctable by reboot, the CSR will not send a replacement - at least that is what I've been told on a couple of occasions by CSRs.

I've had an issue for a couple of years now with my HR20-700, when I get a heavy rain that causes rain fade, tuner one will not come back online until the system is rebooted. I've been told twice by CSRs, when attempting to get it replaced, that as long as a reboot fixes the problem, they will not send a replacement unit, period.

DirecTV don't physically build it but their name is on the front panel. That makes them the manufacturer.

Thirty years ago, I heard one manufacturer say it the best. "The world is a parts bin." It doesn't matter any more where the parts or even whole pieces come from. Your General Electric microwave oven could be made in China by an independently owned factory. It's still a General Electric, though, and if you have problems, it's GE that's ultimately responsible, not some factory in Shanghai.

Incorrect, at least in my experience. If an issue is correctable by reboot, the CSR will not send a replacement - at least that is what I've been told on a couple of occasions by CSRs.

I've had an issue for a couple of years now with my HR20-700, when I get a heavy rain that causes rain fade, tuner one will not come back online until the system is rebooted. I've been told twice by CSRs, when attempting to get it replaced, that as long as a reboot fixes the problem, they will not send a replacement unit, period.

The reason that will not get replaced is the problem is triggered by a signal issue, all signal issues are supposed to result in service calls not replacements. The system that locks up, if it cannot be controlled by the front panel anyway, is a firmware/hardware issue and is cause for a replacement. At least that's how they train us to handle it anyway .

Incorrect, at least in my experience. If an issue is correctable by reboot, the CSR will not send a replacement - at least that is what I've been told on a couple of occasions by CSRs.

I've had an issue for a couple of years now with my HR20-700, when I get a heavy rain that causes rain fade, tuner one will not come back online until the system is rebooted. I've been told twice by CSRs, when attempting to get it replaced, that as long as a reboot fixes the problem, they will not send a replacement unit, period.

That's when you use the "it doesn't come on" method.

If you stop responding to them or put them on ignore, then eventually they'll go away.

The reason that will not get replaced is the problem is triggered by a signal issue, all signal issues are supposed to result in service calls not replacements. The system that locks up, if it cannot be controlled by the front panel anyway, is a firmware/hardware issue and is cause for a replacement. At least that's how they train us to handle it anyway .

That explains it. Although my problem is triggered by a signal issue, the actual problem is the HR20 itself and IMO a service call is a waste. There was a couple of long threads on the issue a long time ago. At some point I will swap it out.

I like sigma's response, we have absolutely no way of knowing whether you're actually doing the troubleshooting or not, but as has been mentioned the company line is to attempt to replace with same model number. So as the title of the thread indicates, no guarantee of model you will receive.

That explains it. Although my problem is triggered by a signal issue, the actual problem is the HR20 itself and IMO a service call is a waste. There was a couple of long threads on the issue a long time ago. At some point I will swap it out.

I had a similar problem with my H20-600s. One quit talking to the LNB altogether one day, and the other had lots of glitches in the picture the first day I got it. They sent out a tech. because the one receiver wasn't getting anything, which was technically a signal issue.

Both boxes happened to be replaced with H24s. The LNB was fine, and the dish was perfectly pointed.

I think this policy is bull.... example:Went to Solid Signal and paid the $200 for an HR24. 3 months later the hard drive went. Solid Signal won't take it back, and DTV says I could get any receiver as a replacement. You know there is a reason I went to Solid Signal and spent the $200. I have the protection plan, I could have just called DTV and said replace my 9 year Tivo box (which still works by the way) for nothing rather than going to Solid Signal and spending the $$$ for the box I wanted.

So what did I do? Went to Best Buy and purchased an external drive. HR24 works fine now, but that doesn't make the policy right.

DirecTV will try to replace an H24/HR24 with a H24/HR24, especially if you have WHDVR service. The reasoning is that they don't need to worry about sending out a DECA unit as the DECA is built into the HR24.

DirecTV will try to replace an H24/HR24 with a H24/HR24, especially if you have WHDVR service. The reasoning is that they don't need to worry about sending out a DECA unit as the DECA is built into the HR24.

- Merg

Having 2 HR24's now and enjoying the speed they offer I would be extremely upset to get anything else as a replacement.

You don't say when your unit went down, but it has been stated many times here that if they can, currently DirecTV wants to replace like with like. If your unit went down today, I would ask for the replacement. I'd bet you'd get back a HR24.

Maybe somebody who follows these issues more closely can me can comment, but I don't remember an instance of a HR24 being replaced with anything other than a HR24, or at least not recently, since the inital shortage of HR24s has gone away. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

My 24s have always been replaced with 24s. So far, I've had to return three, two 500s and one 200. Just got a brand new 500 to replace a 500 that kept crashing. I've even got an "R" 500 that's been working quite well since I got it.

Incorrect, at least in my experience. If an issue is correctable by reboot, the CSR will not send a replacement - at least that is what I've been told on a couple of occasions by CSRs.

I've had an issue for a couple of years now with my HR20-700, when I get a heavy rain that causes rain fade, tuner one will not come back online until the system is rebooted. I've been told twice by CSRs, when attempting to get it replaced, that as long as a reboot fixes the problem, they will not send a replacement unit, period.

I never have a problem getting a bad HR replaced. But, my account is flagged and that helps me quite a bit. And I don't call unless my HR is truly unusable. There's really no reason for a person to be turned down if you have the PP. Three calls about the same issue will trigger a call from the Case Management Group and they will get your problem resolved quickly. They are the most knowledgeable folks you can get to at D* and are quite rational.

More than one member here has had their HR24 replaced with an HR24. It's the 21/22/23 models that seem to get interchanged often.

I would say that if you have whole home and a HR24...then they pretty much have to send you a HR24 otherwise they need to set up installation of the DECA units and such...problably the best way to have some assurance of getting a 24 series.

I know this goes against the grain. However, I was told I’d get a HR24-500 by the CSR, and I did get a HR24-500 less than 24 hours later on my doorstep (it was a self install order).

Here’s the story, as you all know the HR20-700 does not support 3D. Since I’m getting a new TV soon, I thought it would be best to move my HR20-700 to the kid’s room and get a new DVR for the living room. I simply told the CSR I needed a DVR that supports 3D and MRV. After 15 minutes on hold she came back on and said sorry for the wait. Since you’ve been on hold so long we’ll upgrade you at no additional cost (other than a breathtaking two year commitment ). When I reviewed the HR24-500 PO paperwork, it had “whole home DVR” listed as a separate line item. It was structured as if I ordered two items within the PO.

If you state you need a 3D capable DVR, you will get a 3D capable DVR. For “self installs” clearly DIRECTV must have the ability to cherry pick 3D capable units.

On a side note, this whole HDGUI prospect puts another wrinkle in this system. Not many people will be too happy if they have to replace their loaded (3D capable, larger hard drive, fancy touch panel, faster processor, runs cool & HDGUI) HR24-500 for a HR20-700. At some point DIRECTV will have to have full control on inventory. It will not be fair for two customers to pay the same price. One gets a new loaded HR24 (with aforementioned features), the other gets a refurbished HR20.

The 200 had a loose coax barrel and I turned it and it broke internally. One of the 500s went completely berserk (too long a story to tell, you can do a search for it. Just use the keyword berserk and it should come up) and the latest one was just shutting down at odd intervals. The front panel wouldn't work and the remote had no effect. Had to keep rebooting. The fourth or fifth time was the end of it. I only have so much patience with these things.